Investing.com -- China has recently eliminated the 125% tariff on ethane imports from the United States, according to Reuters, citing two informed sources. The tariff, which was imposed earlier this month, has now been waived, providing relief for Chinese firms importing U.S. ethane for petrochemical production. This decision will also create a market for the natural gas liquid, a byproduct of U.S. shale gas production.

Chinese companies that import ethane include Satellite Chemical, SP Chemicals , Sinopec (OTC: SHIIY ), Sanjiang Fine Chemical, and Wanhua Chemical Group. The primary U.S. exporters are Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD ) and Energy Transfer (NYSE: ET ). According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, China purchases nearly half of all U.S. ethane exports.

Earlier this month, China had escalated its tariffs on imports of U.S. goods, including ethane, to 125%. This was a response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to target the world’s second-largest economy with higher duties.

In recent days, however, the tariff on ethane was waived.

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